Cardiacs

Cardiacs, originally known as Cardiac Arrest, are an influential English alternative rock band, renowned for their unique and genre-defying sound, which blended elements of progressive rock, punk, new wave, and psychedelia. Formed in Kingston upon Thames in 1977 by frontman and guitarist Tim Smith with his brother Jim Smith on bass and backing vocals, the band quickly gained a reputation for their chaotic and theatrical live performances. Beginning with their Mothers of Invention-inspired debut single "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus," Cardiacs went on to carve out a niche in the UK’s underground music scene, despite never achieving mainstream commercial success. The Smith brothers welcomed an ever-evolving lineup over the years that included multi-instrumentalist Sarah Cutts, who married Tim Smith in 1983. The band’s early releases, including debut studio album A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) and On Land and in the Sea (1989), showcased their signature blend of soaring melodies, jerky rhythms, and the unmistakable voice of Tim Smith, whose idiosyncratic songwriting and delivery became the band’s hallmark. Their 1996 album Sing to God is often regarded as the group's magnum opus. They earned a cult following and became highly regarded by fellow musicians and critics. Over the years, the band’s influence grew, with many later artists citing them as a major inspiration. In 2008, following a stroke that left Tim Smith unable to perform or tour, the band went on an indefinite hiatus. Tim Smith passed away in 2020 aged 58. Four years later, the group announced their reunion, playing a series of live performances and released a new EP, Cardiacs, which includes the previously unreleased track, "Aukamakic/Dead Mouse,” from the sessions of their 1979 debut as well as the remastered track "Faster Than Snakes with a Ball and a Chain."